gerbil madness

ok still no photo's. not just the backup driver so need to take a look at it.

yesterday we had a nice day, having brunch and touring the antiques shops and garden centre.
when we came home there was some planting up to do and also we had to clean out the gerbil

it is always a challenge as gerbils are both quick and messy.

now our Tiffany (yes the gerbil is called Tiffany) is not tame.

she is a wild beast, a small white beast, If you put anything near her she will bite it, this can be a nut, seed or finger, she does not mind. so in order to clean her out you have to wait until she is asleep. lift off the lid and as soon as she pops her head out pop her exersize ball and get the lid on.

simple.

no not simple, yesterday she developed the vertical leap.

I took the lid off.

She sprang out.

we then chased her around for 5 minutes. LSP quickly got the dogs out of the room, oh yes they would given 1/2 the chance.

eventually I managed to drop the ball on her, lsp held the ball in place while I quickly cleaned out the cage.

when it was time to put her back. I panicked.

Tiffany ended up in the cage with her ball. we then had 10 minutes of me trying to get the ball out.

so we have ordered a new cage, one with lots of rooms so we can separate them off. and avoid the jumping gerbils.

(oh yes my friend finally gave birth to her baby at 3.45 on Sunday morning. a 9lb3 oz baby boy)
(my other friend went into labour 2 weeks early and had an 8lb 4 oz baby boy this morning.)
(I have one more friend with a couple of weeks to go)

lots of baby's around.
hope you had a happy weekend,

pink and blue.

Wow,

spring has sprung, the grass is rizz, I wonder where the birdies is.

ok, no lovely spring pictures as I cannot upload anything. I am currently backing up my computer.

I used proper girly logic when looking for a back up driver. I chose a pink one.

Why?

I figured it would be the most simple. Now is that a good or a bad thing. In fact it is very simple. Probably the black one would have been simple as well.

While everyone was enjoying the sunshine, we had some pre-arranged things booked in. like getting the level's checked on the car, doing the shopping, getting hair cuts. etc

I had the washing on the line, fluttering in the breeze. so at least the washing had a chance to make the most of the good weather.

we have an exciting day ahead of us tomorrow so I am looking forward to tomorrow nights blog.

tonight i will be having an early night tucked up with the kindle, (yes i have a kindle)

I am so lucky it was a just because present form my LSP. I have (ok LSP has) downloaded lots of free books, I asked for some classics. so I am reading Grimm's fairy tales at the mo.

oh yes before I go, why pink and blue.
pink for my backup and blue for my toenails.
(yes I have blue toenails)  1st time ever.
cant wait to get back to my normal stacks of photo posts.
hope you all had a good day.

(oh and my friend still has not had her baby, her contractions stopped. however she started again and went to delivery at 3.30 we are waiting for news)

Hiccups.

Tonight I have been texting my pal, who is currently in labour. hopefully it will not be much longer until she is cradling her new baby in her arms. She is now having contractions every 4 minutes so will only be a few more hours (hopefully) She is having a baby of approximately 9lb. 

We do not know what she is having, we know its a baby, but she has not wanted to know the sex. I think she is having a girl, but who knows.

Today was a fab day but busy. so glad its the weekend now. although it will be a busy weekend as well.

I went shopping today for some easter pressie's and bought 3 lovely pretty dresses for 3 special little girls. (cant put the pictures on as their mummies might see) they are to young for lots of chocolate.

ok so Hiccups.

how do we cure hiccups?

Tonight LSP had hiccups.

So I said, I will give you a pound if you hiccup again.

silence.

This works most of the time. It works with adults and children (but not baby's or animals)
The best one is when I was at a supermarket and the checkout operator was hiccuping and I said to her I would give her a pound if she hiccuped again. and she didn't.

Hope you all have a fab weekend.
(ps, small children especially boys when they find they cannot hiccup will pretend)
(and no its not a pound for each time you hiccup afterwards)

I am now waiting for the text to say that the new baby has arrived.

charity shop shopping..

Now I am often disappointed with the charity shop shopping in my nearest town, but I had a great shop the other day. (the mollie makes was not from the charity shop)

1 blouse, 3.99

I love harris tweed, this tie was only 99p

This was my best bargain. an intact coronation beaker for £1 

yes £1, the cheapest I have seen on ebay was £7.50

the butter knives were a bit more pricey at £10. 

but look they have never been used. 

   it was a great shopping trip.

Joining in!

Bugsy Malone is one of my favourite films. I have loved it since I was a child. I love the story and the music.
Now as both a child and an adult, when you watch the end scene, you wish you were there. In that massive splurge fight at the end!

Now imagine you could be!

On Friday, LSP and I went to the Troxy in London. The Troxy is a magnificent art Deco old cinema. We went to see it with Future Cinema, Now this is not just about sitting down and watching an old movie...

You Dress up, Yes I got to break out the feather's, the pearls (which I forgot) and the flapper dress.

There are live actor's. Before the film starts, you can walk around, go down to slugger's gym. Go to the milkshake bar, (go to the real bar) have dinner at Mama Luigge's. You then can sit and watch the cabaret where Actor's, Singer's and Dancer's, re-enact the songs and scene's from the film in front of you, behind you, with you. The Actor's interact with you, join you at your table.

Then you sit and watch the film, its great, not only do you watch it you cheer and clap. Its great.

You have a small clue as to what may come when you sit down at your table and there are some plastic poncho's on the table.......

Before the final scene. The Movie stops. you put on your poncho's and are given plates of splurge.
Then when Dandy Dan Arrives.....Yes a big splurge fight.
It was great.
The best fun I had in ages.

It was amazing. We went on the first night, and it is running till the 15th April. If you are going to be in London I would recommend it. They are also doing weekend matinee's so you can take the children. Go to the Troxy Website or future cinema for details of how to buy tickets.

(I am feeling better now unfortunately LSP has been quite poorly with the horrid cold)

Atishoo

Yep, another cold.

I am full of cough's sneezes and sniffles...along with LSP and half the people I work with.

Everything just seems a bit more of an effort. I have a sniffly nose, thick head and a sore chest. I did not sleep well last night and fell asleep on the bus. I have horrid tinnitus.

This weekend will be sorting and tidying and cooking a traditional Sunday lunch for guests.

I am cooking chicken. I choose a free range, corn fed, organic chicken that had been read to each evening. (well maybe not read to) We always buy free range but not always corn fed and organic.

I am planning, roast chicken with Skirlie, roast Parsnips, roast potato, clapshot. buttered leeks and Cabbage.
Then for Pudding. I am making a Banoffee Pie.  Should be yummy.

Tonight I will be putting my feet up in front of the tv.

I am currently enjoying timeline on Facebook and uploading old photo's,.

here is one of me 1986 in the school play.

hope you all have a good weekend.

Step by Step Double Chocolate brownies.

Tomorrow, one of our team is leaving to go on maternity leave. So we are having a lovely bring and share lunch. 

I made chocolate Brownies. 

Here is my recipe. 

Most important is the chocolate

 

ok so the ingredients are. 

14 oz rich dark chocolate (70%)

4oz Butter

4oz caster sugar

3 eggs

8 oz flour

6 oz white chocolate

1 tsp vanilla extract.

preheat the oven to 180 c and line an 8x12 tin with baking parchment

Melt the chocolate in a bowl above a saucepan of water, once the chocolate is nearly melted add the butter to the chocolate and melt until the chocolate and butter is smooth. 

In another bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar with the vanilla extract. 

Add the chocolate to the beaten egg, ensure that the chocolate is not too hot or you will end up with chocolate scrambled egg. 

fold in the flour, then the white chocolate chunks and spread into your pan.

Bake for 15-20 minutes at 180 

cut into chunks while still warm.

I have made it into 28 bite size chunks as it is to share with 20 hungry adults, for afternoon tea I would trim the edges and make into about 12 pieces. 

good enough to eat. 

A nice day

Saturday was a nice day,
LSP was not feeling to well, so instead of trudging round the big supermarket, I nipped into town to pick up some bits and pieces.

I went into the charity shops and found nothing ! well that is not strictly true....I did see a set of 6 vintage pressed glass, sorbet dishes for £10. I looked and convinced myself we did not have room for them. (by the time I had finished the shopping I realised I did have somewhere to keep them. oh well. It was not meant to be.

I went into one of our little shops that is stuffed with lovelyness.

2 candle holders, another little heart and some wooden naughts and crosses for LSP's wooden toy collection.

Then onto the deli.

mmm, Stockmans oatcakes (the best) Cornish Yarg Cheese, reeses cups and some pork scratchings and licorice. 

I love oatcakes, so much nicer and more filling than a cracker. 

What better to wash it all down with than...

followed by reading 

 A lovely way to spend the afternoon. 

Time to say goodbye.

I had some sad news today. A friend at work is looking after someone who is dying. She is an old lady who has lived a full life and now she has decided its enough, she is tired and is slipping away, she has days left. It is sad but happy, she ready to go and my friend is making sure she gets to go how she wants, at home in her own bed.  

Death is a funny thing. 

Sometimes we know its going to happen and sometimes it takes us by surprise. 

It happens to us all. at some point or other. 

It reminds me that life is precious and we need to make the most of our lives. It does not mean we have to become headonists because living life to the full is not just about the pursuit of pleasure. Life is not measured by who you are but by what you have done. 

I have lots and lots of happy memories. My life with my partner. our children as they have grown up. I try and do my best at work, to do a good job. I work in public service so am not working to make lots of money. I work in public service because I believe in what public service does. my friends are very important to me, although I do not get to spend enough time with them.

I am very lucky. I have a good life. I wish that more of my family were still alive to share it with me, but I cannot change that. Their time had come. 

just as it is now Mary's time to go, 

Sorry for the melancholy post, I do think that it is important to reflect and think about what we have and what is important to us. Before its to late.

There are no teenagers here anymore.

Today is youngest daughter's. Birthday, She is 20,

I am in denial.

There is a pile of present's in the corner of the room.

They are here as she is in London. ! This is the first birthday she has spent away from us.

She has had a wonderful Birthday weekend, going to gigs and galleries and exhibitions. (oh to be 20)

She is returning later today and we are going out for a family meal. We have chosen some fab pressies for her and some of them are themed. (cannot tell you in case she reads this on the train home).

I am still in Denial.

It snowed here today, I remember one of her birthday's where we went to Cadbury world, and when we came out it was snowing large golfball size snowflakes.

I am still in Denial.

Most of my friends are being very fertile and producing babies left, right and centre....

Our babies are now 20 and 22......

I keep telling people that our eldest is 21,  she will be 23 in a few weeks time ..... that's how deep my denial runs..It is not concious that I am getting it wrong....

Well Happy Birthday Sweetheart.

I've been tagged.

The very lovely mother of Purl, over at flora and purl. has tagged me!

The Rules..
1. Post these rules
2. Post 11 things about yourself
3. Answer the questions provided by the one who tagged you
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag
5. Go to their blog and tell them they've been tagged

ok so 11 things about me. 

1, I am closer to 40 than 30 and I am fine with that. 

2, I love my family. 

3, I have lots of tea towels.

4, For my down time I watch CSI, Criminal minds and soap opera's. 

5, We have 2 dogs

6, I love taking photographs.

7, my favourite brunch is Bacon, Mushroom and Spinach. 

8, I love listening to radio 4 on the weekends and radio 1 in the week.

9, My parents, Grandparents and godparents are all dead. 

10, I have carpel tunnel syndrome in both my wrists that gets in the way of my crafting. 

11, I am 1/16 Welsh

My Questions from Mother of Purl are 

1. Your favourite pizza topping. 

Anchovies, Artichokes, Black olives and Caper's

2. Your happiest childhood memory

Day trips to Weymouth, with my mum, sister, grandmother and the rest of the village.

3. What you think of when you smell vanilla

Cake and baking

4. When was the last time you had hiccups and how did you cure them?

Cant remember when but the ultimate cure is for someone to offer you money when you hiccup again eg I will give you £1 the next time you hiccup. You then stop Hiccuping. (works well with kids)

5. What you're currently reading

"Why be happy when you can be normal" by Jeanette Winterson.

6. Inny or outie?

Inny

7. Your biggest fear

Bad things happening to our children.

8. Your favourite song and why

I don't have 1 I have loads of favourites. One of my favourites is " we have all the time in the world" it was the last song at our wedding. 

9. Something you regret

falling asleep at 9pm last night and missing Stella on the TV.

10. Your favourite item of clothing

my wedding dress, it is and will be the most expensive dress I will every buy. I felt beautiful and special and amazing.

11. Somebody you admire and why
My partner, whom I adore and is an inspiration to me.

Who to Tag?????

 Jan @ Stand and Stare

Rosie @corners of my mind

misshaitch @ cupcakes, nailart and gardening

Marina @ evelyn may

Ann@ forever young

What I would like to know.

1. your favourite place

2. your most extravagant purchase.

3. chips or jacket potato

4. your best holiday

5. have you broken a bone? if yes how?

6. town or country

7. the last time you laughed and why

8. the last time you cried and why

9. paint of wallpaper

10. Cats or dogs

11. when you are older will you have cosmetic surgery? 

good luck.